Spring-cushion.



B. M. A. PHELPS.

SPRING CUSHION.

APPLIoATIoN FILED AUG. 1o, 1907.

Patented July 8, 1913.

4 SHEETPBHEST 1.

B. M. A. PHELPS.

SPRING CUSHION.

AP-PLIOATION FILED AUG.10. 1907. LWQS.

Patented July 8, 11MB.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented July 8, 11913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

B. M. A. PHELPS.

SPRING CUSHION.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1907.

l 9 mw 9 1"? u B. M. A. PHELPS.

SPRING CUSHION.

APPLIOATIGN FILED AUG. 1o, 1907.

Patented July 8, 1913. 4 SHBBTS-SHBET 4.

IUNITED sTATEs PATENT onirica.A

BESSIE M. A. PHELPS, OF JACKSON, MICIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO LEONARD A. YOUNG, OF

' DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SPRING-CUSHION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 10, 1907. Serial No. 388,068.

To all 'whom t may] concern Be it known that L'BESSIE M. A. PHnLPs, a citizenV of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Springushions, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of spring cushions in which an upper border frame is supported on a lower border frame by means of upright furniture springs, and

in which similar springs are suitably sup .ported within the space inclosed by the border frames and are connected at the top to provide a support for an upholstered cover or seat.

My invention relates especially to cushions of this general class which are adapted for use in the seats of automobiles, railway couches and other vehicles.

rthe object of my invention is to improve the general construction of the cushion frames and the arrangement of the springs and their connections with each other and with the frames and also to provide an improvedy arrangement of the interior springs, or those bounded by the border springs which will render the cushion more easy in its movements and will enable me to use springs of lighter gage wire for the interior springs than that used for the border springs.

In Carrying out my invention I provide a lower border frame or base and an upper border Vframe whuch are connected by upright springs of the conical or double conical kind, and within the border frames I arrange springsy which may be of lighter gage wire, the lower set of which are supported on cross bars extending across the base of the frame and the upper set of which are supported on a frame arranged intermediate the upper and lower frames. The upper coils of the upper set of interior springs are connected preferably by horizontally arranged spiral springs and the ends of these springs are attached to an inner upper frame which is fastened to the border springs. The intermediate frame is supported on spring arms which are attached to the base or lower border frame.

The structure as a'whole is of a kind just described, but some features may be varied or omitted, for instance, the intermediate frame may be dispensed with and spring arms arranged to directly support the upper interior springs.

The parts of my invention deemed novel are set forth in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings,-Figure 1 is a plan View with parts broken away of a spring cushion embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan portion of the cushion, the upper frames and the horizontally arranged spiral springs being omitted. Fig. 3 shows a transverse section of the cushion shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and-5 are perspective views of clips which may be employed for connecting some of the parts. Fig. 6 shows a transverse sectional view of aV modified form of cushion. Fig. 7 is a perspective view with parts broken away and parts omitted of a portion of the cushion shown in Fig. 1.

The base or lower border frame, 1, may be constructed of wood or other suitable material. rThe upper border frame, 5, may also be made of wood and this is provided on its under side with strips of metal t which are attached to the frame 5 by means of rivets 6, or they may be attached in any other suitable way.y Border springs 2 and 3, of comparatively heavy gage wire are arranged between the upper and lower border frames and may be connected therewith in any suitable way. Preferably the corner springs 3 are of the single cone kind, while the other` border springs 2 are of the double cone or hour-glass variety. The upper ends of the border springs may be connected with the metal strips 4, by means of fingers, 7, punched out from the frames, 4, and made to engage the upper coils of the springs in the manner indicated.

15, indicates a rectangular intermediate frame arranged within the space bounded by the border springs and preferably in a horizontal plane about midway between the upper and lower border frames. This intermediate frame is supported by spring arms, 17, preferably made of wire coiled at 21 and attached to the lower border frame, 1. The upper inner ends of the spring arms extend through eyes, Q0, attached to the under side 'of the intermediate frame, 15, and the eX- treme upper inner ends of thev arms are bent at 19 to prevent disengagement of the arms and the eyes. The arrangement is such that Patented July 8, 1913.

View of the lower as the intermediate frame moves up and down the spring arms are free to move back and forth to a limited extent in the eyes.

The lower ends of the spring arms, after being coiled, are preferablycarried part way over the lower borderframe and have their ends inserted in holes in the frame, while staples, 18, may be employed for fastening the arms securely in place. On the intermediate frame, 15, are supported the upper coiled springs, 13, which are preferably made of lighter gage wire than the border l springs, and preferably the apexes of these shown at 11 so as to hold the lower ends 'of/ the lower springs, 13, a short distance below the upper surfaceof the lower border frames. The portions, 11, of the cross bars,l

10, may be secured to the lower border frame in any suitable way. In order to sef curely fasten the lower coils of the lower springs, 13,.to the cross bars', 10, I prefera ly employ the fastening devices, 12, of the kind shown in Figs. 4 and 5which have heretofore been employed in this class of spring cushions and need not'be specifically described. Y* Y Fig.` 4 shows the blank of sheet metal which is bent into the shape shown ,in Fig. f5 and made yto inclose a portion of the lower coil of the lower spring, 13, and an adjacent portion of the cross bar, 10. I preferably connect the upper coils of the upper interior springs, 13, by means of horizont-ally arranged ,coiled s rings, 14, which extend both -longitudina y and crosswise of the cushion, cross each other and interlock where they cross, and also interlock with the upper coils of the upper springs, 13. The

opposite ends of these springs, 14,are conf nected with an inner upper frame, 8, Vof

rectangular form and preferablyl made of stout wire. This frame is connected by means of clips, 12, with the upper coils of some of the border springs. f

The upholstered seat or top for the cushion may be applied inthe usual way and it will be seen that the middle portion of the cushion has flexibility independent of the `border springs and is `much more sensitive to pressure. The border springs being of stout wire hold the structure, as a whole, in good sha e, while the interior springs 've more iexibility to the cushion. When t e seat is #first occupied, the upper springs, 13, are first compressed, and if the lweight is light, little or no movement is given to the intermediate frame, but should the weight be vexcessive, the lower springs, 13, and spring arms, 17, will yield, allowing the intermediate frame to lower. The arrangementl is such that when pressure is relieved the parts will all quickly assume their normal position. If desired, the intermediate frame may be strengthened by one or more cross pieces, 22.

The intermediate frame may, in some instances, be omitted altogether and the spring arms, 17 prolonged from one sideof the cushion to the other in the manner indicated in Fig. 6, the springs, 13, being connected thereto in any suitable way. The action will be the, same, namely, the upper springs, 13, will, in some cases, be compressed without compressing the lower springs, 13, or the spring arms, while when the weight is excessive, the lower springs, 13, and the spring arms, 17, will be compressed. The lower springs, 13, may, if desired be entirely omitted 'the spring arms, 17, serving to support either the intermediate frame, 15or to directly support the upper springs, 13, or both the intermediate frame and the two sets of springs 13 may bev dispensed with, the spring arms 17 serving to support excessive weight.

I claim as myI invention 1. The /combination `of the .upper and lower border frames, the upright springs connecting them, the inner upper frame connected with the border springs, inner springs supported from the lower border frame and horizontally arranged coiled sprin s which interlock with the upper coils. of t e inner springs and cross and interlock witheach other in the space between each set of four springs and which are attached to said inner frame. v

. 2. A spring cushion, comprising theupf` per and lower frames, upright springs connectin them, a rigid intermediate frame arrange between the horizontal planes ofthe upper and lower border frames, spring arms supporting this frame, and upright springs carried by said intermediate frame.

3. A vspring cushion, comprising upper and lower border frames, upright springs connecting them, an intermediate frame, and spring arms supported on'the border 7frames and having sliding connection with the intermediate frame which they support.

4. A springy cushion, comprising upper and lower border frames, upright springs connecting them, inner springs having their upper ends arranged at the top of the cushion, and spring arms supported by one of the border frames having intermediate coils and in turnA supporting said inner springs.

5. A spring cushion, .comprising upper and lower border frames, upright springs connecting them, cross-bars connected with -the lower border Yframe, springs supported on sx1-id cross-bars, a rigid intermediate frame with which the upper ends of said las|J mentioned springs are connected, and other springs supported by said intermediate frame and extending to the top ofthe cushion.

6. A spring cushion comprising border frames, marginal and interior upright springs supported in the framesand spring arms having coils intermediate their ends supported by the border frames and having their upper port-ions arrangedintermediate the up r and lower frames of the cushion i and w ich are adapted to be compressed when the cushion is subjected to unusual 7.\In a spring cushion the combination with a lower frame, of an upper frame, an intermediate frame, springs arranged be tween the lower and upper frames, certain of said springs having engagement with. said intermediate frame, and means on the lower frame havi sliding engagement with said intermediatenrame and yieldin ly supporting said latter frame between t e otherl frames. l v 8. In a spring cushlon, the comblnatlon with up and lower frames, of springs arranged hliween the frames, a frame intermediate the upper and lower frames, and spring arms on the lower 4frame having sliding engagement with the intermediate frame which they support.

9. In a spring construction, al framesprings mounted on the frame, a secon frame` and. spring arms supported on the first frame that extend transversely thereof between adjacent rows of the springs and have sliding connection with 4the second frame which they support.

10.' In a spring cushion, the combination with a lower frame and an up er fra-me, of springs arranged between the ames, an intermediate frame, spring arms on the lower frame yieldingly su porting the intermediate frame, and ui es on the intermediate frame with wh-ic the arms are in sliding engagement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

BESSIE M. A. PHELPS.

Witnesses:

L. A.y YOUNG, GEORGE H. C Un'rrs. 

